Welsh Government Biodiversity Targets Advisory Panel meeting: 2 December 2024

The inaugural Biodiversity Targets Advisory Panel (BTAP) meeting took place on 2 December 2024 and was Chaired by Alice Teague, Deputy Director Marine and Biodiversity Division. 

The meeting covered a variety of topics to introduce members to the Environmental Principles, Governance and Biodiversity targets Bill proposals and the work done so far on target development.

The Terms of Reference for the Panel were agreed and will be published on the Welsh Government website. 

Welsh Government gave an overview of the biodiversity proposals in the proposed Bill. This included an overview of the consultation on the Environmental Principles, Governance and Biodiversity targets: White Paper which has been completed.

Target development requires several steps, including policy development, subordinate legislation development and consultation, and the procedural steps in the Senedd. The policy development timeline will partly depend on the type of target being developed - action or outcome based – given the modelling required.

The Panel agreed that the targets should continue to be developed considering both outcome and action-based targets where appropriate. Officials should also keep up to date with how other legislatures are developing targets.

Wales cannot set 23 statutory targets; therefore, Welsh Government are currently undertaking a prioritization exercise of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets based on viability, feasibility, importance, measurability, and interdependence of the targets. The prioritisation method was presented and discussed. The method provided a ranked list of the GBF targets, helping to identify which targets to include in the first ‘tranche’ of the Regulations. The prioritised list will provide the basis for target development for Wales. 

The Panel approved the prioritisation method used. Officials were asked to engage with the Welsh Soil Discussion Group.

It was noted that the intention is to appoint an independent Chair for the Panel. Welsh Government intend to advertise on Environment Platform Wales.

Welsh Government noted that running concurrently with this Panel is engagement with Wales Environmental Link and their Biodiversity Working Group. Officials will facilitate engagement between the two groups.